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MLIT

Tourists crowd Sensoji Temple in Tokyo's Asakusa district in February.
JAPAN
Mar 28, 2024
Japan tourism agency picks model areas aiming to address overtourism
The agency has selected 20 areas to implement model projects aimed at addressing challenges related to the negative impacts of a surge in tourists.
Residents remove snow from rooftops together with workers from a snow removal company in Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, in January 2021. In fiscal 2022, 49 people in Japan died during activities related to the clearing of snow. Of these, 39 people — or roughly 80% — were age 65 or older.
JAPAN / Society
Mar 15, 2024
Land ministry goes digital to prevent snow-clearing accidents
The system is aimed at assessing the risks associated with snow removal at individual houses to avert mishaps, particularly ones involving the elderly.
Toyota Industries President Koichi Ito (right) receives an operation correction order from transport ministry director-general Hirohisa Tsuruta at the transport ministry in Tokyo on Thursday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 22, 2024
Japan transport ministry punishes Toyota affiliate over data-rigging
Despite the corrective order, the ministry said that it has not found any misconduct that warrants revoking approval for Toyota's automobile engines.
Daihatsu President Soichiro Okudaira submits a report to transport minister Tetsuo Saito on measures the automaker will take to prevent a recurrence of safety testing fraud, on Friday in Tokyo.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 10, 2024
Daihatsu reports measures to prevent recurrence of testing fraud
"We want to implement recurrence prevention measures firmly and make the company capable of doing its job properly," the firm's president said.
A Japan Airlines jet is on fire at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Jan. 2.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 7, 2024
Japan air traffic controllers call for 'significant' staff increase
Last year, the number of air traffic control staff in Japan dropped to its lowest level in at least 19 years, according to transport ministry data.
Daihatsu President Soichiro Okudaira speaks to reporters at the transport ministry on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 17, 2024
Daihatsu may lose production rights for three models in safety scandal
An inspection by the transport ministry found that air bags had been set to inflate automatically in tests rather than when a crash was detected.
Japan Airlines flew some domestic flights without the required checks by mechanics, the transport ministry said Friday.
JAPAN
Dec 22, 2023
JAL flew some domestic flights without required maintenance checks
The person in charge of maintenance failed to carry out required work, such as data-logging and checking the exterior of the aircraft.
Officials from the transport ministry enter Daihatsu Motor's headquarters in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, on Thursday for inspection after a scandal regarding safety data manipulation emerged at the firm.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 21, 2023
Daihatsu offices raided after scandal halts all car shipments
The raid followed revelations that the carmaker and supplier had manipulated the results of various collision safety tests dating as far back as 1989.
A Bigmotor outlet in Tama, Tokyo
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 24, 2023
Transport ministry orders Bigmotor to halt operations at 34 shops
Twelve of the shops had their licenses to carry out private vehicle inspections revoked.
The land ministry plans to resume a subsidy program to help families with small children and young married couples build energy-efficient houses.
JAPAN
Oct 21, 2023
Japan looks to resume aid to help build energy-saving houses
The land ministry aims to incorporate the program in the government's upcoming economic package.
The transport ministry holds a hearing session for Bigmotor on Friday in Nagoya. Bigmotor officials did not show up.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 20, 2023
Transport ministry moves to punish Bigmotor outlets over fraud
Violations by the used car chain have included overcharging customers for inspection and maintenance fees.
The transport ministry plans to order major used car dealer Bigmotor to halt operations at a quarter of its vehicle maintenance outlets over suspected improper provision of services as investigations continue into insurance fraud cases.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 13, 2023
Bigmotor to be ordered to halt operations at 34 maintenance shops
The transport ministry has said that the company intentionally damaged vehicles to inflate repair fees.
A Bigmotor dealer branch in Saitama that was inspected by the transport ministry
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 12, 2023
Transport ministry to penalize used car dealer Bigmotor for fraud
Penalties are planned at 34 Bigmotor outlets, with 12 possibly set to have their authority to conduct safety inspections revoked.
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tetsuo Saito
JAPAN / Society
Oct 10, 2023
Japan to add driving to specified foreign worker skills
"We'll make various efforts to ensure that local residents and tourists have access to necessary means of transportation," minister Tetsuo Saito said.
Haneda Airport in Tokyo
JAPAN
Sep 29, 2023
Flights delayed in Japan due to air traffic control glitch
During the disruption, information other than the location of aircraft was not displayed on the control system screen.
Delivery trucks at a parking area along the highway in Chiba Prefecture in April
JAPAN / Society
Sep 14, 2023
Japan set to expand visa framework to tackle driver shortage
The planned expansion of the visa framework is to attract foreign nationals to the logistics industries and to address the driver shortage problem.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said that roughly 32% of aging bridges maintained by municipalities have not undergone safety improvements.
JAPAN
Aug 28, 2023
Thousands of aging bridges in Japan need safety fixes
Since many repairs and maintenance procedures stopped due to funding and labor shortages, the government now plans to provide financial support.
Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Tetsuo Saito (left) speaks with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida before a Cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in July.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 14, 2023
LDP increasingly wants land minister post back from Komeito
Calls are growing within the LDP to get the post of land minister back from Komeito just as Kishida considers a possible Cabinet reshuffle.
Transport ministry officials enter a Bigmotor dealership in Sapporo on Friday for an on-site inspection.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 28, 2023
Transport ministry conducts on-site probe of Bigmotor amid scandal
The surprise inspection, which covered dealerships in 24 prefectures, came after the ministry interviewed Bigmotor executives including newly appointed President Shinji Izumi on Wednesday.
A patch of ground after trees had withered and were removed in front of a Bigmotor branch in Higashisumiyoshi, Osaka Prefecture, on Thursday
JAPAN / Society
Jul 28, 2023
Dead trees bring fresh scandal to used-car chain Bigmotor
There is emerging speculation that the company may have perceived the roadside trees as a detriment to their business, possibly by obstructing the visibility of the displayed used cars.

Longform

High-end tourism is becoming more about the kinds of experiences that Japan's lesser-known places can provide.
Can Japan lure the jet-set class off the beaten path?